OU football vs. Arizona: 4 takeaways from Sooners' loss to Wildcats in Alamo Bowl

SAN ANTONIO — Jackson Arnold popped up quickly from the Alamodome turf.

Arnold was resilient, but OU was cooked.

The Sooners’ sixth turnover of the game virtually put the game away, as No. 14 Arizona stunned No. 12 OU 38-24 in the Alamodome on Thursday night.

Their backs to the wall with about four minutes remaining, the Sooners needed a big play on third-and-20 from their own 39.

But Arnold couldn’t find a receiver free and was hit by Isaiah Ward, knocking the ball free where it was picked up by Jacob Kongaika.

OU’s six turnovers — three interceptions and three lost fumbles — overshadowed Arnold’s otherwise solid starting debut and ended the Big 12 era on a sour note.

The six turnovers were OU’s most in at least 24 seasons.

More: OU football grades vs. Arizona: Jackson Arnold's starting debut is mixed bag in Alamo Bowl

It was a particularly rough day for OU wide receiver Jalil Farooq.

Farooq had two fumbles — both in critical areas of the field — as OU had six total turnovers.

The Sooners hadn’t had six turnovers since the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl loss to Clemson.

Gunner Maldonado was right in the middle of both of Farooq’s turnovers.

About six minutes into the second quarter, the Sooners were building momentum after the offense settled in and Kani Walker picked off Noah Fifita to give the Sooners the ball at the Arizona 34.

On the first play, Arnold hit Farooq for a long completion but Martell Irby knocked it loose and Maldonado recovered to give the Wildcats the ball back.

They eventually punted but turned the field back in their favor.

Then late in the third, with the Sooners once again deep in Arizona territory, Arnold hit Farooq on a hot route. As Farooq spun, the ball was knocked free by Dalton Johnson and Maldonado was there to grab the ball, returning it 87 yards for a touchdown.

The Wildcats scored 28 points off the turnovers, while OU couldn’t capitalize on Arizona’s one giveaway.

Here are three other takeaways from the Sooners’ victory:

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Jackson Arnold’s debut has plenty of highs, lows

Jackson Arnold’s start could hardly have been worse.

Arnold missed the mark, had a pass dropped and threw an interception on his first drive as OU’s starting quarterback against Arizona in the Alamo Bowl on Thursday.

Arnold’s first four passes were incomplete and it looked like the Sooners’ offense would sputter.

Arnold settled in soon enough and put up strong numbers — 26 of 45 for 361 yards and two touchdowns — but the interception column wound up being his undoing as he threw three.

Arnold also ran for 38 yards on 11 carries — being sacked three times.

It was early in the second quarter when Arnold finally found some rhythm, firing three straight completions to redshirt freshman Nic Anderson — though the last was negated by a penalty.

On the next play, Arnold scrambled for a 7-yard gain and from then on, the freshman looked comfortable.

Arnold’s ease also helped Sooners’ offensive coordinator Seth Littrell settle in as a play caller and turn up the tempo offensively.

By the time Gavin Sawchuk broke through for an 18-yard touchdown run just more than five minutes into the second quarter, the Wildcats’ defense looked gassed.

That continued for a good chunk of the game before the turnovers became too much.

More: 'Oklahoma has his back': Jackson Arnold's star not dimmed by Sooners' loss in Alamo Bowl

Nic Anderson’s highlight catch puts Sooners in front

When the Sooners got the ball back with 5:32 to play before halftime, they needed to keep the momentum rolling offensively.

OU was trailing by six and with the ball coming OU’s way to start the second half, putting some more points on the board before the break could keep the momentum squarely on the Sooners’ side.

On the second play of the drive, Gavin Sawchuk broke off a 62-yard gain to put OU inside the Arizona 30.

Five plays later, Jackson Arnold stepped out of pressure, throwing across his body as two Wildcats defenders bore down on him and flipped the ball just outside the edge of the end zone.

It was perfect placement for redshirt freshman receiver Nic Anderson.

Anderson dove for the catch, dragging his feet to complete the catch and put the Sooners ahead for the first time, 14-13.

The reception was Anderson’s 10th touchdown reception of the season, giving him an OU freshman record for touchdowns in a season. He entered the game tied with Marvin Mims for the record.

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Sooners’ defense brings the heat

Even as Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita looked otherworldly early, OU’s defensive front still was getting in the backfield regularly.

Fifita was only able to avoid the pressure for so long.

On third-and-10 from the OU 29 in the second quarter, Isaiah Coe closed in on Fifita, driving him straight into the arms of Marcus Stripling for the sack.

The sack was the first of five for the Sooners’ defense in the game, tying their most of the season. OU also had five sacks in its win over Texas on Oct. 7.

Kendel Dolby had two sacks. R Mason Thomas, Stripling and Kip Lewis also had sacks.

Stripling was the only one among the group who came into the game with a sack this season.

More: OU football doubles season-high in turnovers & more stats from Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona

Ryan Aber covers OU athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Ryan? He can be reached at raber@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @RyAber. Sign up for the OU Sooners newsletter to access more OSU coverage. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football loses Alamo Bowl to Arizona in last game before SEC move